A Bit More Classical
John D. Dooley | Southern California United States | 07/25/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Paul Dresher has been writing minimalist classic music mixed with jazz rock fusion & tape loops for years. There was a series of modern operas, rather modern stage performances in the 1980's which only one was recorded for the mass market. You will hear some Steve Reich rhythm & percussion influence but Paul Dresher is less mathematical & more emotional with his music. I was just listening to another one of his CD's "Opposites Attract" but the music was rather heavy handed for this evening & I needed something more claming. This CD fits the bill & here is the review...
There are 4 sets of music in this CD:
1. "Double Ikat" for violin, piano, & percussion (1988-90)
Starts out rather like Steve Reich but slows down to a more tuneful smooth atmosphere, then the percussion & the solo violin go back & forth between wild & calm. I like the sad piano with solo violin at the end.
2. "Dark Blue Circumstance" for solo electric guitar (1982-87)
Sounds like a Robert Fripp & Brain Eno tape loop. Rather trance like, but then a mournful canon flows through.
3. "Channels Passing" for chamber septet (1981-82)
This is the song that turned me on to Paul Dresher, it was on an New Albion CD collection I picked up in New York City. After listening to this piece is when I started to collect Paul Dresher's work. Very Staccato added process minimalist classical music.
4. "Night Songs" for 3 voices & 6 instruments (1979-81)
Texts from various native American Indian groups with an African & Polynesian poem set to music with certain word plays & images.
Great inner notes on the history of Paul Dresher & the above music included with the CD."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1